So you want to make a movie?

This image is here because Mr. Harris served as an executive producer on Piranha 3D. Also because it's a fine metaphor for Hollywood.

Sure you do. Everybody does. Stardust and the stuff that dreams are made of, baby. And the good news is, now you can! Or at least, now you can listen to J. Todd Harris, a guy who's actually done it a bunch of times, tell you how best to go about your business. (Back in 2008, your humble correspondent interviewed Mr. Harris about his role in producing the winey charmer Bottle Shock. It gives a pretty good sense of the networking aspect of things.) Plus, you get to pitch your idea!

Here, then, are the details. Yeah, you have to drive to LA. What did you expect?

Producing The Independent Film: An Insider’s Perspective

J. Todd Harris, CEO of Branded Pictures Entertainment and producer of 38 films, offers you a 6-hour practical seminar on producing your independent film. Producer of five Sundance Film Festival entries, Mr. Harris will take you through the steps of making your picture: selecting material, developing your screenplay, assembling your creative team, approaching talent, creating a business plan, raising financing, pre-production, production, post-production, marketing and distribution. Mr. Harris executive produced the Golden Globe-winning and Academy Award-nominated THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, produced the critically acclaimed Sundance entry BOTTLE SHOCK, and produced THE FAMILY TREE, in theaters August 26. He is currently wrapping the feature film CROOKED ARROWS in Boston. Mr. Harris, who teaches producing at the Los Angeles Film School, earned his BA and MBA from Stanford and is 12-year member of the Motion Picture Academy, Producers Branch.

Suggested preparation for this seminar includes:

A 60-90 second pitch on a project you’re developing.

Watching the feature film BOTTLE SHOCK (available on Netflix).

Seeing either THE FAMILY TREE (at Sunset 5) or MISS NOBODY (on Netflix).